I'll Have to Say I Love You....
May 18 '02
The Bottom Line Love mixes: cheaper and more meaningful than a Hallmark card. And they won't get tossed in the trash after a week.
The mix tape or CD – a perfect gift to say “I love you” in a song (or twenty). There are so many great love songs out there that it can be hard to choose. I’m sure I could easily find some R&B or easy listening tunes that sum up my feelings, but since that’s not what I listen to, where’s the personal touch there? You should find songs that are of the genre(s) you and your significant other listen to. Not only is it more personal, both of you will enjoy listening to it more than a bunch of sappy songs that you wouldn’t normally have in your CD player.
So for the rock enthusiasts like me, I’ve provided some suggestions. I know I’ve left out tons, but these are some that have worked for me. Of course, in the immortal words of the great Lavar Burton, you don't have to take my word for it.
The Essentials
There are some songs that have been making heartbeats quicken for a long time, and they can easily continue to do so years from now. Rod Stewart’s Have I Told You Lately? (“You fill my heart with gladness/ Take away all my sadness”) and Billy Joel’s She’s Got A Way (“She’s got a way about her/ I don’t know what it is/ But I know that I can’t live without her”) are perfect examples. They are slow enough to dance to, and the lyrics are simple yet say it all. Looking for more such classics, look no further than Eric Clapton’s Wonderful Tonight, Jim Croce’s I’ll Have to Say I Love You in a Song, and Joe Cocker’s You Are So Beautiful. You don’t want to load your mix with these obvious selections though, or else you might look unoriginal.
Aww yeah…
In addition to the love songs, you can’t forget the makin’ love songs. Here, you may have to look beyond rock, unless you want to give Nine Inch Nails’ Closer a try. Somehow, I don’t think that’s the key to most ladies’ hearts. If you must stick with rock, try Perry Farrell and DVDA doing Hot Lava: “Oh baby, every time we kiss, it’s like lava/ And every time that we make love, it’s like lava, hot lava.” Just don't tell her what DVDA stands for.
But for this category, you might want to try some Barry White or Marvin Gaye. I can think of least four artists who sing Sexual Healing, so give any of those a whirl. But of course, nothing beats the real thing.
Some Fun Stuff
What good is a relationship if you can’t have fun? That’s why you might want to throw in some goofy love tunes. Probably the best one is The Barenaked Ladies’ If I Had a Million Dollars. It’s a funny but cute song about all the things they’d buy their girls if they hit the jackpot: a house, a limo, a monkey – all the stuff girls dream of.
Also, what could make someone laugh more than sending out an ‘80s ballad? Honestly, go for it. Many good love songs came out of that decade, but if you’re going for a laugh, I suggest Def Leppard’s Pour Some Sugar On Me.
Hidden Gems
There are lots of classic love songs out there, but what about the ones that aren’t so popular? The Stone Temple Pilots have a couple good ones. There’s I Got You, in which Scott Weiland sings about how his wife can always cheer him up and “paint the sorrow on his day.” There’s also Still Remains, a beautiful song with a line that says that til death do us part is just not enough: “If you should die before me, ask if you can bring a friend.”
Try the Smashing Pumpkins’ Madelia of the Grey Skies for another great line: “You’re all I notice in a crowded room.” A lot of the other lyrics are a bit odd, but it’s worth it just for that one and for the overall sound of the song.
Pearl Jam has a few heart-stealing songs as well. Wishlist is, as Eddie Vedder puts it, so simple a monkey could play it, but it is also a good love song that lists all the things he wishes he could be for his lady; “I wish I was the full moon shining off your Camaro’s hood…/ I wish I was the verb ‘to trust’ and never let you down.” An even better one is Thin Air. I used this as a radio dedication nearly two years ago, and lo and behold, we’re still together. It’s a perfect song for anyone who’s reached your heart in thin air.
Some other good ones you might not think of right away:
311: I’ll Be Here a While
Live: I Alone
Metallica: Nothing Else Matters
Pearl Jam and Ben Harper: Throw Your Arms Around Me
Rancid: Who Would Have Thought?
Incubus Stellar
And a ton of others that aren’t coming to mind right now.
A Personal Touch
Finally, don’t forget those songs that have special significance you two. It’s ok to include a song that isn’t a love song. I’ve given out mixes with Alice in Chains’ Get Born Again, South Park’s Cartman singing In the Ghetto, and Chris Jericho’s entrance theme. It’s those personal touches – the inside jokes and whatnot – that let her know this mix is just for the two of you.
There you have it – my tips on making a good love mix. Find songs you’ll both enjoy and songs that mean something to both of you. But above all, have fun because for God’s sake, it’s music!
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Member: Matt
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